Guidelines for ammunition to be used with Kirst Cartridge Konverters:
All centerfire Kirst Konverters are manufactured for use in modern, reproduction Cap & Ball revolvers with steel frames; they can fire Standard Pressure and Cowboy Action ammunition. Don’t use +P ammo or any other high-pressure ammunition. Note: The use of jacketed ammo may cause slightly more wear to the bore of the barrel than using lead bullets. Do not use centerfire Konverters in brass framed revolvers, only .22 rimfire Konverters can be used in brass framed revolvers.
(.22 caliber rimfire Konverters can be used with these .22 caliber cartridges: .22 Short, .22 Long, or .22 Long Rifle).
Please refer to manufacturers data and follow all safety precautions, we will not recommend any loading data as manufacturers change and update their powders and loading data frequently. Never use high-power or magnum loads.
In 2021, we started machining our .38 caliber Konverter cylinders with .358 throats to match the standard diameter of .38 Special bullets.
The.38 Special Kirst Konverter (with .358” diameter throat): will handle standard .38 Special, .38 Long Colt, and .38 Short Colt, Standard Pressure or Cowboy Action Ammunition. Note: Will not accept .38 S&W Short cartridges, .38 S&W Long cartridges or. 38 caliber Heeled Base Bullets! A .36 caliber percussion revolver barrel has a larger diameter than a .38 caliber bore; for the best accuracy use .38 caliber, HOLLOW base, lead bullets. Click here to order .38 Special HOLLOW base ammo.
.38 “Heeled Base” Kirst Konverter (with .375” diameter throat), add $30.00 for this option: The .38 Heeled Base Kirst Konverter is also available for those wishing to load and shoot historically accurate Heeled Base lead bullets in their 1851 and 1861 Colt Navy revolvers. (Will not accept .38 S&W). This model Konverter is only needed if you load and shoot .38 caliber Heeled Base lead bullets.
All .44 caliber Cap & Ball revolver barrels are machined with the exact same bore dimensions (.452" nominal) as the bore of a .45 Long Colt revolver. Therefore, the barrels of these .44 caliber Cap & Ball revolvers will accurately shoot .45 Long Colt, .45 Schofield, or even .45 ACP ammo.
Here are some suppliers of “Cowboy Action Ammunition”:
- Buffalo Arms: https://www.buffaloarms.com/ammunition/cowboy-ammo.html
- Black Hills: http://www.black-hills.com/product-category/cowboy-ammo/
- Midway USA: https://www.midwayusa.com/s?searchTerm=Cowboy+Action+Ammunition